not_Joanna_eggs
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2008
- Messages
- 1,247
This day ended up being my favorite - non-wedding day of the trip.
We woke up really early (okay, that part wasn't really my favorite ) and ate some breakfast in our room. DH was like a little kid - so excited for the Behind the Steam Trains tour...
Though we used the concierge service quite a bit, our hours didn't mesh well with the lounge hours, and we rarely used it. Now, that may have had something to do with the fact that we had so much left over food and booze, but had I known, I probably would have saved some cash and not done the club level room and gone for a view instead... because the stuff we had the concierge do, I could have easily done myself - I was just enjoying being lazy! oh well you live and learn.
We headed over to the main building around 6:45, grabbed some coffee from the cafe and hopped on the first monorail at 7. We got to the MK in plenty of time (gotta love monorail resorts!)
We arrived at the MK just after 7, and got to watch the sunrise.
Sort of strangely romantic
DH is such a dork - he purposely wore his "Milwaukee Steamfitters" shirt for the steam engine tour. We were hanging out and the first couple that was joining us on the tour came up and took a look at DH's shirt and commented that they were from Wisconsin too. Then the 2nd couple came up and the guy started talking to DH, he was a retired steamfitter! DH was in heaven. It was then and there that I knew I'd lost him. There was one more couple that eventually joined us.
It was a nice sized group. We were by far the youngest people there, which didn't really matter, but it was definitely noticeable.
There was one couple on our tour who were clearly there just for the glimpse back stage and exclusive pin at the end. They were kind of obnoxious and distracting, and would ask totally unrelated questions about being a Disney employee. The other 2 couples were much like us - wives conceding 3 hours out of their mornings so their husbands could appease their inner 5 year old and play with the big trains. Or as our guide called us "Those who want to be here, and their captives" At least in our case - that was so true.
I think part of my problem was that I was so tired. Crazy tired.
What the Magic Kingdom entrance looked like to me in my half-awake state
DH however was so excited to be there, he was wide awake.
The entrance as DH saw it
So around 7:15 a rather conspicuous gentleman in a train conductor's hat and overalls came out, so we all gravitated towards him. It was our tour guide Jim. I was not particularly interested in the tour itself, but Jim was fascinating and a great tour guide. He even got me interested in it!
The train pulled up to the train station on cue, and we headed up there to meet it.
We were let in the gates by Larry. Has anyone ever met Larry? Apparently he's rather "famous" (though I'd never heard of him before) You're supposed to say "Hey Larry, how are you doing today" to which he'll reply "Outstanding, and If I were a farmer, I'd be Out Standing in a field." He'll keep going from there, changing it up for people. Kind of funny..
So weird to see Main Street USA totally empty and deserted
These are my kind of crowds!
See how tired I am? And just plain enthused to be there.
So we made our way up to the train station, and boarded the very last car in the train. There Jim introduced himself and gave us a little background about himself, and about the WDW trains.
We woke up really early (okay, that part wasn't really my favorite ) and ate some breakfast in our room. DH was like a little kid - so excited for the Behind the Steam Trains tour...
Though we used the concierge service quite a bit, our hours didn't mesh well with the lounge hours, and we rarely used it. Now, that may have had something to do with the fact that we had so much left over food and booze, but had I known, I probably would have saved some cash and not done the club level room and gone for a view instead... because the stuff we had the concierge do, I could have easily done myself - I was just enjoying being lazy! oh well you live and learn.
We headed over to the main building around 6:45, grabbed some coffee from the cafe and hopped on the first monorail at 7. We got to the MK in plenty of time (gotta love monorail resorts!)
We arrived at the MK just after 7, and got to watch the sunrise.
Sort of strangely romantic
DH is such a dork - he purposely wore his "Milwaukee Steamfitters" shirt for the steam engine tour. We were hanging out and the first couple that was joining us on the tour came up and took a look at DH's shirt and commented that they were from Wisconsin too. Then the 2nd couple came up and the guy started talking to DH, he was a retired steamfitter! DH was in heaven. It was then and there that I knew I'd lost him. There was one more couple that eventually joined us.
It was a nice sized group. We were by far the youngest people there, which didn't really matter, but it was definitely noticeable.
There was one couple on our tour who were clearly there just for the glimpse back stage and exclusive pin at the end. They were kind of obnoxious and distracting, and would ask totally unrelated questions about being a Disney employee. The other 2 couples were much like us - wives conceding 3 hours out of their mornings so their husbands could appease their inner 5 year old and play with the big trains. Or as our guide called us "Those who want to be here, and their captives" At least in our case - that was so true.
I think part of my problem was that I was so tired. Crazy tired.
What the Magic Kingdom entrance looked like to me in my half-awake state
DH however was so excited to be there, he was wide awake.
The entrance as DH saw it
So around 7:15 a rather conspicuous gentleman in a train conductor's hat and overalls came out, so we all gravitated towards him. It was our tour guide Jim. I was not particularly interested in the tour itself, but Jim was fascinating and a great tour guide. He even got me interested in it!
The train pulled up to the train station on cue, and we headed up there to meet it.
We were let in the gates by Larry. Has anyone ever met Larry? Apparently he's rather "famous" (though I'd never heard of him before) You're supposed to say "Hey Larry, how are you doing today" to which he'll reply "Outstanding, and If I were a farmer, I'd be Out Standing in a field." He'll keep going from there, changing it up for people. Kind of funny..
So weird to see Main Street USA totally empty and deserted
These are my kind of crowds!
See how tired I am? And just plain enthused to be there.
So we made our way up to the train station, and boarded the very last car in the train. There Jim introduced himself and gave us a little background about himself, and about the WDW trains.
Thanks for joining in!
Sounds like an interesting tour. Glad your DH enjoyed it so much!
more please!
you know, I was 1/2 expecting a mini Ringo or George Karlin to pop out and start giving us the tour. (though I suppose that would be been really creepy - or meant that someone spiked my coffee 
) It's only $45 and there's an AP discount too. I highly recomend it!
the tour is cancelled for the month of May. We will be at Disney World during the last week in May so I guess we will have to miss it. I am enjoying your trip report, and congradulations on your wedding.
. All kidding aside, I hope you and your DH are able to do the tour one day, sounds like he'd love it!
